Generalmusic Promega2 Page 40
TECHNOLOGY
The Promega2 features no less than five unique applications of sound design technology including
Physical Modeling to entirely replicate electro-mechanical instruments, (like Clavinet and Rhods),
and also to simulate the particular harmonic characteristics of a piano soundboard.
Physical Modeling
Physical Modeling is a method of sound synthesis based upon a mathematical model which
describes the physical construction of the instrument being simulated. Unlike sampling technology,
in which an existing sound is simply recorded at a particular moment in time, (to remain
essentially the same forever), the sounds produced by a Physical Model continuously react and
respond to the players input, maintaining all the little nuances and imperfections which provide
the most reliable subconscious assurance that the instrument being played is the real thing.
A detailed description of the patented physical models used in the Promega is beyond the
scope of this section but the advantages of physical modeling technology over sample-playback
are very easier to describe and even easier to hear. A sampled sound can be likened to a
snapshot of a particular moment in time during which an instrument is being played. Its like
taking a photograph. If you were to stand in front of The Great Pyramids in Egypt and take a
photograph, that photograph might serve as a simple reminder of the time that you were there,
but in no way will it ever replicate the actual experience of being there; of being able to view
the Pyramids from any angle or distance; to breathe the air and listen to the distinctive sounds
of that region. Now, if we were to render the Pyramids in a 3D virtual reality environment,
adding some appropriate sounds and smells and allowing you to walk around the site, to pick
things up and touch them, we could get much closer to replicating the actual experience. In
this simple analogy, you can think of the 3D rendering, complete with its sounds and smells and
user interaction, as a Physical Model of the pyramids.
The goal of Physical Modeling is this: Instead of simply recording the final audible product of a
instrument like an electric piano, we replicate all the elements which are incorporated into its
construction. If the physical model is constructed carefully and accurately with meticulous
attention to detail, the resulting sound should be exactly like the real thing and, more importantly,
the experience of playing and interacting with the instrument should be similarly convincing.
In the Promega, all the acoustic piano sounds are created by combining sample playback with
Generalmusics Natural String Resonance, Damper Physical Model, Advanced Release and FADE
technologies, (described below).
Other instruments such as RHODS, WURLI and CLAVINET are created using pure Physical
Modeling.
Natural String Resonance
This physical modeling technology, patented by Generalmusic as Natural String Resonance,
allows all of the complex harmonics normally produced by a pianos soundboard to be faithfully
reproduced. This means that a notes individual sound will always be slightly different depending
upon which other notes are currently being held, (and consequently which strings are un-
damped and free to resonate in sympathy with the note played). If you hold down a low C and
let the note decay, the strings for that note are still un-damped for as long as the key remains
depressed. If you now strike another C higher up the keyboard, (staccato), you will hear the
sympathetic resonance of the low C strings in response to the new note played. This natural
effect replicates exactly what happens inside a grand piano. If you experiment with different
combinations of notes you will hear harmonic colors particular to each. Because this effect is
produced by physical modeling and not by samples or DSP effects, the result is a musically and
technically accurate simulation of a pianos soundboard and virtually infinite combinations of
harmonics can be produced.